Wednesday, May 28, 2008

We are all Mark Steyn: a call for slogans!

The Covenant Zone bloggers will be demonstrating in support of Mark Steyn and Maclean's magazine, and against the ludicrous operation of "human rights" law in this country, when Mark's hearing in front of the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal kicks off, next Monday, June 2. We will meet at 8 AM in front of the Provincial Court House at 800 Hornby where, according to the BCHRT website, the hearing will take place.

We welcome all bloggers, readers, and informed and outraged citizens to join us. (Also: we will be discussing this tomorrow at our regular Thursday evening meeting in the atrium of the Vancouver Public Library, central branch, 7-9 pm, in front of Blenz Coffee - look for the blue scarves.)

Now since many people interested in this "trial" are not in the Vancouver area, we thought we would offer people a way of participating in our demonstration. We intend to carry signs and hand out leaflets. The problem we have is how to communicate the current "human rights" travesty in some catchy phrases or slogans. This is an invitation to send us ideas. We want slogans and/or aphorisms or short statements that can appeal to ordinary citizens, to communicate something of the evil that will be unfolding in the court house to those who may not know what is going on. We want phrases that will be memorable, perhaps even one day historical.

Now of course we will only be communicating slogans with which we agree, for which we can take responsibility. Anyway, if you have a good idea, why not let us know. If we get suggestions, we'll put them in a later blog post.

My own take on what is happening to Mark Steyn and Maclean's is that they are being held up as (potential) sacrificial victims or scapegoats, in an attempt to sustain a post-national and imperialistic ideology, a "human rights" world view in which the potential scapegoat is anyone who makes too much noise about the direction of history, and about the freedom of citizens in once self-ruling nations to try and shape history in the cause of their shared freedom.

For the "human rights" crowd, Western freedom has become too risky, a potential source of global violence; and thus the "human rights" advocates seek to keep it under reigns. More generally, the "human rights" bureaucrats have come to the view that the normal in Western society is always a potential source of violence towards those they certify as marginal groups exposed to victimization by the normal. Theirs is essentially a response to the Holocaust and the Nazis who corrupted the normal and all the professions in Germany to their violent ends. And yet, the post-Nazi "human rights" world view has in turn become an ideology that requires its own parade of victims. Somehow it has missed some key element to a proper understanding of the history of victimization and antisemitism. It has become what it purports to fight.

The "human rights" worldview is thus rightly the target of humourists like Steyn. Mark Steyn, as we all know, is something of an icon for a post-9/11 world, calling on Westerners and all free citizens to take ownership again of their nations, to fight against post-national and anti-national bureaucratic elites who, in institutions like the UN, the EU, the global media, the academy, and the Canadian "human rights" commissions take the view that the protection of the modern global order requires, among other things, all kinds of regulations against risky language, language that might "victimize" and inflame those at odds with modern civilization. As a kind of appeasement or paying of blackmail the "human rights" world view is one where Western left-liberal opinion implicitly allies with those opposed to modern freedoms and feeds the resentful with victims, like Mark Steyn, or any icon of the normal, successful, wealthy, corporate, American, Israeli, Christian, etc., in a vain attempt to keep the peace. They also ignore many of the gross human rights violations in non-Western countries, and make excuses for the persecution of women, Christians, gays, etc., according to a nihilistic code of cultural relativism.

Thus "We are all Mark Steyn." We individuals, we Canadian (and other nations') citizens who enjoy freedom and want the right to publish and listen to any and all ideas as we see fit, with only the proper limits of civil and criminal law, are all potential victims of the falsely-named "human rights" world view.

"I am Mark Steyn" is our unifying slogan, the title for our handout. Let us know what we might put under that.

Well, actually, I was a young man who didn't give it much thought but basically felt that the government going after Zundel was a good thing. We all are foolish and righteous when young. We need to convert people from what most of us think when young (and that some then make a career from). I don't mind saying "it's my fault", though there may be better ways to say it.

Oh, I WAS out there in support of Zundel's right to free speech. This time I'll be supporting Steyn. Maybe next time I'll come out in support of anonymous. I don't even care if he's an a-- whatever. You see, it's an American thing. It's also a Canadian thing. And an English thing. It's actually a universal thing. Free speech is a right we all share. Even people I don't like have the right to slag me. The bastards.

Such is life. I'll be living it. So sue me. I'll still be free. I am Mark Steyn. I am free.

"My Idea, My Right""What Would Jesus Think?""But 2+2 Does Equal 4""I THOUGHT Paris' last album was great, so lock me up""Make Sense, Not Commissions""Liquidation World: The HRCs""Next Up: Day Zero""Go Leafs, Go""FUCK!""I exercised my right to freedom of speech and all I got was this crappy investigation"

From my reading of the BCHRT web site it seems to me that according to their rules all hearings are open. YOu might want to phone them to make sure. Hope you will consider reporting on it. I hope to attend Monday, but can't make it every day.

- BCHRC: Punishing one Right after another.- HRC's: Freedom of the Press today, Freedom of Thought tomorrow.- HRC's: Don't worry your head, we'll punish them.-HRC's: "Freedom of Speech is an American concept"-HRC's: Orwell screwed up the year.

And though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play on the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously by licensing and prohibiting misdoubt her strength. Let her and Falsehood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the worse in a free and open encounter?~John Milton, from Areopagitica

I'd prefer a slogan along the lines of the shehada (one of the 5 pillars of Islam). It seems ... appropriate.

The shehada reads: ‘I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of Allah’

Maybe: 'I bear witness that there is no liberty but in the West and Steyn is our Prophet'

That's not great, but something like that. You know, on a horizontal green sign, in white text printed above the silhouette of a white fountain pen - like an homage to the Saudi flag if you get where I'm going with this. Class it up for the press.

There is no essential difference between German fascism and so-called communism, which was, an is, simply Russian and Chinese fascism. The simple truth is that the Russians, both before and after the war, successfully portrayed the German fascists, and fascists in general, as essentially a right wing movement. This is, of course, completely false. The National Socialist German Workers’ Party (the Nazi’s), were exactly who they proclaimed to be, in spades! They were a socialist labour movement, and no more right wing than the Daily Kos! There are those that claim that Hitler somehow perverted the movement from left to right. This is clearly preposterous, anymore than Stalin took Lenin’s and Trotsky’s leftist movement and perverted it to the right. Both the Russian so-called communists and the so-called German fascists were nothing more that extreme leftist movements, characterized by the usual statism and totalitarian ideals found among leftists in our own North American society. Anyone, my dear friends, that supports the type of government coercion represented by the Human Rights Commission is clearly one of the usual leftist suspects. It is important that the leftist crazies in our society not be allowed to continue to portray fascism as essentially right wing when, in fact, the worst fascist movements in history were leftist scum, including Pol Pot and the current leftist degenerates in Burma, who are a client state of the current Chinese fascist state.

Really impressed about with your article. I would add though that I think the HRC's are the forerunner of a Secular religious police, such as in Saudi Arabia. If the Islamists win there ideological war it will be de-facto, its instrument of oppression . That so many of these cases are being brought by this group is a sigh post .

Just my opinion

1) Free Speech, no human rights leech2)Inquisitions where for the middle ages3)Democracy not dogma4)Freedom means firing the HRC's5)Stop the Inhuman rights courts6)Who's really on trial here.7)Human rights just means you can be offended for money.8)Pre-crimes or bovines9)HRC's, only your investigator knows10)Free Mark Steyn or where all slaves.

Really impressed about with your article. I would add though that I think the HRC's are the forerunner of a Secular religious police, such as in Saudi Arabia. If the Islamists win there ideological war it will be de-facto, its instrument of oppression . That so many of these cases are being brought by this group is a sigh post .

Just my opinion

1) Free Speech, no human rights leech2)Inquisitions where for the middle ages3)Democracy not dogma4)Freedom means firing the HRC's5)Stop the Inhuman rights courts6)Who's really on trial here.7)Human rights just means you can be offended for money.8)Pre-crimes or bovines9)HRC's, only your investigator knows10)Free Mark Steyn or where all slaves.

Barbara Hall said that if Mark Steyn had printed what he said on a sign instead of in a book and magazine, she could act on it, but not otherwise. So he's delivering a sign with his article taped to it to her office, daring her to take action.

That's what you should all do. Tape photocopies of the article to signs and dare the Commission to act on it.

Congrats to all the commentators ... a lot of great ideas flowing in. I'd like to second Anon's comment (from 8:24 PDT) about using blank signs. I think that's a brilliant idea.

It's so common now to see groups of protesters, small and large, chanting with scrawled slogans on cardboard that it's easy to walk by and ignore. Now, imagine if you had a group of people, completely silent, all holding blank signs. That would attract my attention.

No chanting, no slogans, no “Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho, HRCs have got to go” .... just deafening silence and a synopsis of the Mark Steyn/Maclean's case passed out as a pamplet.

I am Mark Steyn, I am the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom. I was murdered by a communist/marxist arm of the Canadian Government. My death will not be vindicated because the Conservative Dictator Herr Harper apparently condones my murder. Do not mourn for me, please fight for freedom in Memory of Me.

I am Mark Steyn, I am being sensored.

I am Mark Steyn, I am a victim of HRC tyranny.

I am Mark Steyn, when I die in the service of my country. I died for liberty and freedom not Sharia Law.

I am Mark Steyn, when I'm told my opinions have no value or merit lest they offend Political Islamists in Communist Canadstan.

I am Mark Steyn, when I'm told I am worth half the value of a man.

I am Mark Steyn, when a stranger slaps a suicide bomb on me and tells me it's a new coat.

I am Mark Steyn, when the police come for me because I offended the Prophet Allah.

I am Mark Steyn, when they stone me to death for being raped.

I am Mark Steyn, when they hang me for apostasy.

I am Mark Steyn, when my father kills me for not being modest enough.

I am Mark Steyn, because all Canadians will eventually face the tyranny that he's about to face. Potentially we are all Mark Steyn.

“It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.” Welcome to the HRC!

"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." Welcome to the HRC!

"It's a sad and stupid thing to have to proclaim yourself a revolutionary just to be a decent man." Mark Steyn, revolutionary.

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” The HRC welcomes you to the beginning of the end of your lives!

“Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth -- more than ruin -- more even than death.... Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man.” Well, the HRC will put an end to that nonsense!

HRC’s motto: “There is no nonsense so errant that it cannot be made the creed of the vast majority by adequate governmental action. There is no nonsense so gross that society will not, at some time, make a doctrine of it and defend it with every weapon of communal stupidity.”

Advice from the HRC. "To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing."

(I like the third slogan best, although the second one is a bit smoother. Trouble is, most people don't get that "free speech" is the very root of all our other freedoms, so they would be more inclined to go: "The end of free speech? Yea, ok whatever."

“In a very few years, perhaps in a very few months, we shall be confronted with demands with which we shall no doubt be invited to comply. Those demands may affect the surrender of territory or the surrender of liberty. I foresee and foretell that the policy of submission will carry with it restrictions upon the freedom of speech and debate in Parliament, on public platforms, and discussions in the press, for it will be said--indeed, I hear it said sometimes now - that we cannot allow the [Islamic system of stealth warfare]to be criticized by ordinary, common [Infidels of the West]. Then, with a press under control, in part direct but more potently indirect, with every organ of public opinion doped and chloroformed into acquiescence, we shall be conducted along further stages of our journey.” -- Winston Churchill

[Nazi system of dictatorship]-First Substitution

[English politicians]- Second Substitution

I think if Churchill were suddenly reincarnated today he would instantly approve of these text substitutions, given a few moments to look around at the mess we have gotten ourselves into - Again!

(Mohammedanism - No stronger retrograde force exists in the world today - WC) Holy Frack! Did that guy have vision or what!

Findalis above has graciously hosted a number of posts from me on this topic, for which I am thankful and indebted. The word spreads across the world thanks to folks like Findalis, and we, in turn strengthen their effort as well by speaking up and speaking out here.

All these comments from people around the world must be shaking the Death Hippies to the core. Gotta love free speech in action like this. You all are showing the world how it's done.

Not immediately catchy, I know; also it's very, very obscure, and would require a ridiculously tall placard. Hey, I'm new to this marching-and-chanting thing, what can I say?

Unfortunately I won't be able to lose my, erm, "demo" virginity Monday anyhow, since the twerps have scheduled the Steyn proceeding for 8 a.m. EIGHT A.M.! This can only be a calculated insult to literary/journalistic Areopagitica types. The BCHRT may not be "the most tyrannous inquisition that ever inquired"; but starting legalish activities at such an hour certainly proves that they are nerds. Give 'em megaphone shouts and compelling signage for me, fellow citizens, please; hopefully we can all brunch in there somewhere.

How did Martel respond to getting clubbed down by federal opinion-regulators, you might wonder? Well, he tried to co-operate, first off, pleading to be permitted to read "something that isn't objectionable but just deluded." The CBC's response: no, you may not, and shut up please.

Then he just shut up. Lately he's been agitating for the government to pour more cash into arts programmes, especially the orchestra of the same federal broadcaster that ruthlessly gagged him. Martel apparently fears that the dispersal of said CBC orchestra might presage a new barbarism in Canada.

He has no apparent problem with the muzzle the sophisticates of Mother Corp put on him, though. In fact, he appears to still be wearing it, while poking out his tongue to lick the hand that beat him. Pray tell me, Yann -- whose dog are you?